Villeneuve honoured by Canada

Jacques Villeneuve will officially join his legendary father Gilles in the pantheon of Canadian sporting greats when he is inducted into the nation's Sports Hall of Fame later this month.

The 1997 F1 world champion is one of Canada's most decorated motorsport names, having also won both the 1995 CART Series and Indianapolis 500, becoming only the second man to have won the 500 and both the F1 and IndyCar championships, after Mario Andretti. Earlier this year, former Williams, BAR and BMW Sauber driver Villeneuve made history again by becoming only the second driver to race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in three major series, adding NASCAR's Brickyard 400 to his previous F1 and CART appearances.

Although he was denied ultimate success on the world stage, Gilles Villeneuve was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the inaugural induction ceremony in August 1993.

“It's a great honour to be inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame,” admitted Villeneuve Jr, who still harbours ambitions of an F1 return having been denied a place for his eponymous team in 2011.

“I'm extremely fortunate to have represented my country throughout my racing career, and to have achieved international success as a Canadian athlete. The Hall has honoured a great many outstanding sports men and women, who I'm sure will continue to inspire young Canadians for generations to come.”

Canada's Sports Hall of Fame was established in 1955 to 'preserve the record of Canadian sports achievements and to promote a greater awareness of Canada's heritage of sport', and Villeneuve will be inducted alongside ice hockey legend Patrick Roy, freestyle skier Jean-Luc Brassard, wheelchair racer Chantal Petitclerc, speed skating and cycling Olympian Clara Hughes, and Olympic gymnast Kyle Shewfelt.

The Induction Gala will be held on Wednesday [10 November]at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Calgary.